Matteo Pessina’s 39th minute flick-on proved enough for Italy to beat Wales 1-0 to top Group A as both teams advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2020.
Pessina flicked in from Marco Verratti’s 39th minute free-kick in a tightly fought contest as Andrea Belotti and Federico Bernardeschi saw several chances go begging in another dominant display for Italy, who go through as Group A winners.
Wales meanwhile qualified in second as Switzerland couldn’t overhaul their goal difference deficit despite beating Turkey 3-1 across in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A scrappy start saw Belotti and Bernardeschi waste early shots straight at Danny Ward before Emerson and Matteo Pessina put chances wide, with the Italians’ best chance in the opening half hour seeing Belotti fire wide in the 24th minute after neat one-two pass into the box with Bernardeschi.
Italy’s pressure eventually paid dividends in the 39th minute as Marco Verratti bent a free-kick low through a gap for Pessina to flick in to put the hosts ahead at half time.
Bernardeschi and Belotti saw early second half chances go begging before Wales were reduced to ten men in the 56th minute, with Ampadu harshly red carded for an accidental late stamp on Bernardeschi’s left foot during a challenge which made the 20 year-old the youngest player to be sent off in Euro history.
Italy proceeded to maximise their one-man advantage with waves of attacks but Wales dug deep to avoid defeat by a larger margin, as they scraped through as Group A runners-up after starting the tournament as the favourites of many to crash out early.
A sixth minute strike from Haris Seferovic and Xherdan Shaqiri’s brace helped Switzerland defeat Turkey 3-1 to secure third in Group A, although the Swiss must wait until Wednesday (23 June) to discover if their win is enough to see them qualify for the knockouts as one of four best third-placed finishers.
Team News
Italy – Gianluigi Donnarumma (Sirigu 90′), Rafael Toloi, Leonardo Bonucci (Acerbi 45′), Alessandro Bastoni, Emerson Palmieri, Matteo Pessina, Jorginho (Cristante 75′), Marco Verratti, Federico Bernardeschi (Raspadori 75′), Andrea Belotti, Federico Chiesa
Substitutes: Salvatore Sirigu (GK), Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Spinazzola, Manuel Locatelli, Gaetano Castrovilli, Lorenzo Insigne, Francesco Acerbi, Bryan Cristante, Ciro Immobile, Nicolo Barella, Giacomo Raspadori, Alex Meret (GK)
Wales – Danny Ward (GK), Connor Roberts, Chris Gunter, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Neco Williams (Davies 86′), Joe Morrell (Moore 60′), Joe Allen (Levitt 86′), Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale (Brooks 86′), Daniel James (Wilson 74′)
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey (GK), Ben Davies, Tom Lockyer, Harry Wilson, Tyler Roberts, Kieffer Moore, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Jonny Williams, David Brooks, Adam Davies (GK), Chris Mepham, Dylan Levitt
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